Improvement in grain-binders



E. WOODBURY.

GRAIN-BINDERS.

No. 194,117 Patented Aug. 14,1877.

| VENTOR ATTOIRNEYS NFETERS. PHOTQ-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTONv D Cv UNITEDSTATI' EDWARD WOODBURY, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAlN-BINDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 194,1 [7, dated August14, 1877. application filed i June 12, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD WoonBURY, ofKalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments forGrain-Binders; and I do hereby declare'the following to be a full,clear, and exact descrip-v tionof the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improved binding-arm attachment forgrain-binders, the object of the same being to provide a bindingarm ofsuch construction that it will operate in a positive manner to compressthe flowing grain into bundles of the desired size, and carry the bundleto the desired point for binding, when the binding-arm will beautomatically retracted, and in its passage through the flowing grainassume a vertical position, whereby little power is required forcarrying it back into position for a succeeding stroke, and, also, itwill not disturb or lift the flowing grain through which it rises. Afterthe arm has passed above the flowing grain it automatically assumes itsproper position for compressing another bundle of grain.

My invention consists in the combination, with a rock-shaft having thebinding-arm secured thereto, of one or more springs, connected with therock-shaft in such a manner that the binding-arm will be forced upwardlythrough the flowing grain by the action of said spring or springs.

My invention further consists in the combination, with the rock-shafthaving a bindingarm secured thereto, said shaft having one or moresprings secured thereto to turn it in one direction, of a pulley orchain-wheel secured to the shaft, a chain Wound thereon, and the freeend of the chain secured to a revolving disk or wheel attached to acounter-shaft.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myinvention; Fig. 2, a rear elevation; and Fig. 3 shows the position ofthe arm as it is moving upwardly through the grain.

A represents a hollow receptacle or hopper, into which the grain flows.The means em- .ployed for directing the flow of the grain and foroperating the binding wire or cord are not shown, as it will beunderstood that my invention is adapted to be applied to many of thegrain-binders now in use without materially changing any of the parts ofthe same.

B is a rock-shaft, the ends of which are journaled in any suitableportion of the frame of a grain-binder. O C are arms, the ends of whichare rigidly-secured to the rock-shaft. Between the outer ends of arms 0G is pivoted the binding-arm D, the rear end of arm D extending over therock-shaft and weighted at E. F F are spiral springs, having their innerends attached to the rock-shaft, and their outer ends secured to somestationary portion of the grain-binder frame. The springs serve torotate the rock-shaft in one directionthat is, to turn the shaft andraise the bindingarm. G is a pulley or chain-wheel, secured to one endof the rock-shaft B by a nut, 9, said pulley having one end of a chain,H, wound thereon, while the opposite end of the chain is secured to awrist-pin, I, on the disk or wheel J attached to the counter-shaft K.

The position of the pulley may be readily changed by unscrewing the nutg and adjusting the pulley either to alter the position of thebinding-arm or tighten the chain. The nut is then turned tightly againstthe pulley, and serves to hold the same securely against the shaft.

The operation of the device is as follows: The flowing grain enters thehopper or hollow receptacle A, and is therein retained by means of thebinding wire or cord, (not shown,) wheel J being actuated in thedirection of the arrow by any suitable connection, while the mainportion of the binder operates to turn the pul ley or chain-wheelGon therock-shaft by means of the chain H, and revolve the rock-shaft B againstthe tension of the springs F. As the rock-shaft is turned it carrieswith it the pivoted binding arm D, and forces the same against theflowing grain in the hopper. The bindingarm D in its descent operates asa rigid arm, as its rear portion has firm bearing on the rock-shaft, andhence it compresses the grain into a bundle and carries the bundle clearof the lower portion of the hopper, that it may be properly bound. Asthe wrist-pin I reaches its dead-center, or extreme limit of movementaway from the rock-shaft, the spiral springs F F operate to reverse theaction of the binderarm and carry the same backwardly through the grainin an upward direction.

In order to lessen the resistance of the grain to the upward movement ofthe binding-arm, the latter is jointed, as described; and hence, insteadof describing a circle, the same as in its descent, the point of the armyields to the pressure of the grain, and in its upward passage the armassumes nearly a vertical position, and thereby moves with littleresistance, and also leaves the grain undisturbed in the hopper. Whenthe arm has passed upwardly through the grain the rear and Weighted endD falls, and thereby raises the forward portion into its proper positionfor operating on another portion of the grain in the hopper.

It is evident that many slight changes in the construction andarrangement of parts may be effected Without departing from the spiritof my nection, might be employed with good effect. Also, the binding-armmay be made to assume a proper position by attaching a spring to therear end of the same, instead of employing a weight for such purpose.Again, instead of employing spiral springs to raise the bindingarm, aweighted lever may be secured to the rock-shaft, and serve to turn thesame and raise the binding-arm.

Hence, 1 do not limit myself to the particular construction andarrangement of parts shown and described; but

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by-Letters Patent, is-

The combination, with a rock-shaft, a binding-arm connected therewith,and springs or equivalent means to turn the shaft in one direction, of achain or other flexible connection, one end of which is secured toapulleyon the rock-shaft, and the other end to a wheel on a EDWARDWOODBURY.

Witnesses:

JNo. W. TAYLOR, A. HENRY.

